The Real Reason Prince Never Liked People Covering His Songs

The Real Reason Prince Never Liked People Covering His Songs | I Love Classic Rock Videos

Prince's Superbowl Performance - NFL / Youtube

In the modern era, music consumption has shifted primarily to streaming platforms, with vinyl sales experiencing a resurgence among nostalgic music fans. However, this transition to the digital realm has presented the music industry with financial challenges. Visionary artists like David Bowie and Prince foresaw the impact of the Internet on the industry.

In 1999, Prince delivered a speech at the Yahoo Online Music Awards, cautioning against being overly consumed by the internet. He stated, “Don’t be fooled by the internet… There’s a war going on. The battlefield’s in the mind. And the prize is the soul. So just be careful. Be very careful.” Eleven years later, Prince expressed his discontent with the internet and its impact on artists’ compensation, declaring: “The internet’s completely over… I don’t see why I should give my new music to iTunes or anyone else. They won’t pay me an advance for it, and then they get angry when they can’t get it.”

Prince’s remarks foreshadowed the inequality that has plagued the music industry in the age of streaming platforms. He even took a stand by removing his songs from Spotify and distributing his 35th studio album, 20Ten, for free with copies of The Daily Mirror and Daily Record.

In addition to his criticism of the internet, Prince expressed his disdain for digital music and its impact on the listener. He believed that digital music lacked the depth and emotional connection of analog recordings. Prince remarked, “You’re getting sound in bits. It affects a different place in your brain. When you play it back, you can’t feel anything. We’re analog people, not digital.”

Prince also voiced his disapproval of the trend of cover songs, highlighting that, unlike other art forms, music allows for different artists to reinterpret existing songs. He questioned the appeal of hearing someone else sing his hit song “Kiss,” citing the uniqueness and individuality of each artist’s performance.

Despite his controversial views, Prince’s insights into the music industry’s relationship with the internet, digital music, and cover songs offer valuable perspectives on the challenges faced by artists in the modern age.